- Enneagram Type 1 (“The Reformer”) is motivated by an intense desire to be good, virtuous, and ethical in order to make the world a better place.
- They are also known as “The Perfectionist,” as they can hold themselves and others to very high (and sometimes unattainable) standards.
- When Type 1s are healthy, they are principled, wise, and inspiring. When they’re less healthy or struggling, Type 1s can be overly critical, rigid, or repressed.
Type 1 Traits
Enneagram Type 1 is known as “The Reformer” or “The Perfectionist.” This personality type is known for being principled, ethical, and hard-working. They care deeply about being virtuous, and they see it as their personal mission to make the world a better place. Because of this, they tend to have pretty high standards for themselves, and for the people around them. Basic desire: To be good and honorable, to have integrity, and to live a life with purpose Basic fear: Being corrupt, immoral, or a “bad person” Strengths: Moral, upright, responsible, diligent, honest, well-intentioned, dedicated, idealistic Weakness: Perfectionistic, exacting, rigid, critical, judgmental, imbalanced, self-repressed
Moral & virtuous Type 1’s deepest desire is to be a good, ethical person. They have strong moral codes, and they care deeply about doing the right thing. At their best, Type 1s are hopeful, idealistic “reformers” who want to use their unique qualities to improve the world.
Perfectionistic Type 1s hold themselves to an incredibly high standard. They want to be excellent and exceptional, not just acceptable or average. Above all, they believe in doing things the right way, and they won’t allow themselves to take any shortcuts.
Hardworking & focused Type 1s have big goals, and they aren’t afraid of a little hard work to reach them. They want to be useful to the world, and they know that this will take diligence and dedication. With their singular focus and their commitment to achieving great things, there’s nothing a Type 1 can’t do!
Responsible rule-followers Type 1s have great respect for society’s laws and rules, and they’re serious about following them. They have a deep desire to be blameless and faultless, so they’re careful to never set a toe out of line. Type 1s are at risk of becoming a bit rigid in their rule-following, but when they’re healthy and balanced, they’re impressively principled.
Type 1 Weaknesses & Growth Opportunities
Hard on themselves They hold themselves to very high standards, which sometimes leads to an excess of self-criticism. When Type 1 makes a mistake, they tend to beat themselves up over it, rather than giving themselves grace. To overcome this: Make an effort to be kinder to yourself. Everyone makes mistakes, and it’s impossible to be perfect 100% of the time! Try reciting positive affirmations to cultivate a healthier attitude toward yourself and build self-love. For example, you could recite, “My worth is not dependent on my achievements,” or “I am worthy and capable, even when I make a mistake.”
Overly critical of others Type 1 has good intentions—they simply want to be the best possible version of themselves, and they want this for others, too. Nevertheless, Type 1s exacting standards can be too harsh and sometimes unattainable, causing tensions and stress in their relationships. To overcome this: Work on building empathy toward the people around you. This will help you be more understanding and meet others where they’re at. When you're feeling critical or judgmental, pause and ask yourself what challenges or difficult circumstances this person may be facing. Think about how you might feel in their position, and let this feeling of sympathy grow. Use it to fuel kindness and understanding toward them.
Rigid or inflexible Type 1’s intense commitment to following rules and adhering to plans can make them a bit of a stickler. When this quality is left unchecked, Type 1 can develop an overly controlling personality, and they may struggle to adapt to unexpected circumstances. To overcome this: Push yourself to become more flexible. It’s okay to love rules and structure, but it's also important to be able to adapt when life throws a wrench in your plans! Start by challenge your thought process. For example, at first you might think, “This isn’t the right way to do things. It’s all going to go wrong.” Push back against this, and instead tell yourself: “This is different from what I’m used to, but that’s okay. It may be an opportunity to learn something new.”
Self-repressed Because Type 1s are so focused on being blameless and in-control, they tend to squash down complicated emotions. When Type 1s feel angry, for example, they tend to deny and repress this feeling because they think anger isn’t virtuous. Left to stew and fester, Type 1’s anger can boil over and blow up. To overcome this: Allow yourself to freely express your emotions. There’s nothing wrong with being angry, frustrated, or overwhelmed sometimes! These feelings are completely natural, but when you suppress them, they actually end up growing and becoming more volatile. Try practicing mindfulness, as well as journaling or confiding in a trusted friend to get more in touch with your emotions and express them in a healthy way.
Type 1 Levels of Development
Each Enneagram type can be broken down into 9 levels of development. Depending on the balance and self-awareness of each person, they may fall into the healthy range (levels 1, 2, and 3), the average range (levels 4, 5, and 6), or the unhealthy range (levels 7, 8, and 9). In other words, Level 1 would be Type 1 at their best and fullest potential, while Level 9 would be Type 1 at their most pathologically self-destructive.
Healthy Levels Level 1: Wise, inspiring, and altruistic. They can easily see what needs to be done to make the world a better place, and they do it without hesitation. Though they hold themselves to a high standard, they’re also flexible and forgiving toward themselves and others. Level 2: Virtuous, ethical, and responsible. They have a strong sense of right and wrong, and they’re committed to being a force for good in the world. Level 3: Principled and committed to their morals. They value fairness and truth above all, and derive their value from having a sense of purpose in the world.
Average Levels Level 4: Disillusioned by the injustice in the world and upset that things aren’t the way they “should” be. This drives them to fight for causes they care about, but they can be so focused on negative things that they have a hard time seeing the positive. Level 5: Has an excessive commitment to being “good.” Unforgiving toward themselves when they make a mistake, leading to a rigid, perfectionistic mindset. Can be seen as controlling or inflexible. Level 6: Extremely critical of themselves and the people around them. Has high, unattainable standards that they insist on enforcing. Very judgmental, leading to tensions in their relationships.
Unhealthy Levels Level 7: Very intolerant and unforgiving when people don’t live up to their expectations. Can be self-righteous and judgmental of others, while justifying their own shortcomings. Has an inflexible, black-and-white mindset. Level 8: Extremely focused on criticizing the behavior of others, without turning that judgmental gaze inward. May be hypocritical, engaging in the behaviors they condemn in others. Level 9: Harshly judgmental of the behavior of others in an unkind, punitive way. Need to have complete control of things. Prone to anger and outbursts of temper because they have no patience for mistakes or errors.
Type 1 Subtypes & Wings
Enneagram Type 1 has two subtypes: 1w9 and 1w2. In the Enneagram system, each type may share some of the qualities of their adjacent types. For Type 1, this would be either Type 9 (“The Peacemaker”) or Type 2 (“The Helper”). These subcategories are called “wings.” 1w9: A Type 1 with a 9 wing is more relaxed and flexible than a typical Type 1. They’re more able to consider the perspectives and views of others, and they tend to be more easygoing. They are good at mitigating conflict and promoting harmony. 1w2: A Type 1 with a 2 wing is very generous and altruistic. They tend to focus their energy on improving the lives of others, and they have a strong desire to be helpful. They tend to be more outgoing and extroverted than typical Type 1s.
Type 1 Romance & Compatibility
Type 1s thrive in monogamous relationships. Type 1s are very principled and dedicated, so it’s no surprise that they take relationships seriously. Relationships are hard work, and diligent Type 1s are willing to do what needs to be done to achieve a healthy, committed partnership. You can count on them to stick things out through the tough times because they’re in it for the long haul. Type 1s tend to pair well with Type 2s, Type 7s, and Type 9s. These pairings tend to be balancing and complimentary, bringing some much needed levity and lightness to Type 1’s more rigid, inflexible side.
Type 1 & Type 2: This pairing brings out the best in each other. Type 2 brings empathy and warmth to Type 1, while Type 1 encourages Type 2 to go after their goals with diligence and consistency.
Type 1 & Type 3: A high-achieving pair. Type 1 brings dedication and a realistic mindset, while Type 3 brings idealism and big-picture thinking. They may need to focus on communication to bridge the gap between their different perspectives.
Type 1 & Type 4: A stylish, organized couple. Both appreciate order and beauty, and they can bond over this. They may struggle with a lack of compromise and need to work to respect each other’s viewpoints.
Type 1 & Type 5: A hardworking, logical pairing. They are both principled and moderate. They may need to remind themselves to let loose and have fun every once in a while.
Type 1 & Type 6: This pairing shares many of the same ideals. They value goodness and are excellent planners, which makes them kindred spirits. They may need to remember to make room for spontaneity.
Type 1 & Type 7: This couple has an “opposites attract” energy. Type 7 helps Type 1 unwind and let loose, while Type 1 encourages Type 7 to become the best version of themselves through hard work. They bring out the best in each other.
Type 1 & Type 8: A passionate, energetic pairing. They both want to make the world a better place and enjoy fast-paced lifestyles. They may need to work on being less irritated or short with each other.
Type 1 & Type 9: A loving couple. Together, they can be a powerful force for good in the world, though they may need to remind themselves to focus on each other as much as they focus on their community.
Type 1 Careers & Professional Life
Type 1s thrive in careers geared toward making the world a better place. Their deepest desire is to live a life of integrity, honor, and purpose, and they’re naturally drawn to jobs that align with these ideals. Type 1s are especially happy in medicine, politics, or social justice work, as these fields allow them to help others and improve their communities. Best careers for Type 1s: healthcare professional, lawyer, judge, social worker, psychotherapist, journalist, teacher, professor, social justice advocate.
Famous Type 1s
Type 1s are often high achievers. They have super high standards for themselves, and they’re incredibly hard workers, so it’s no surprise that they rise to the top of whatever field they choose! Here are a few notable Type 1s: Venus Williams Michelle Obama Steve Jobs Jane Fonda Emma Watson Eleanor Roosevelt Mahatma Gandhi Nelson Mandela Brené Brown C.S. Lewis
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